Save Access

from: Contra Costa Times

AT&T, Verizon spend millions to access California cable TV market

SAMANTHA YOUNG
Associated Press

SACRAMENTO - AT&T and Verizon, the two most dominant players in California's telephone market, spent nearly $26 million to lobby lawmakers last year in a successful effort to access the state's lucrative cable TV market.

Note: Another case of the FCC and telecom industry withholding information that might otherwise lead to a better informed and transparent public policy.

from: Center for Public Integrity

Center's Suit To Get Broadband Data Draws Industry Interest, Comment
AT&T, Verizon Intervene in Center's Suit Against FCC

frm: Worchester Telegram

Friday, December 22, 2006
Community voices

Cutting public access channel would be unwise

As Worcester nears the end of the current cable television contract with Charter Communications, speculation that the public-access channel could take a major budget hit is troubling, indeed.

To avoid the prospect of spending billions for upgrades or just red-lining entire states - Verizon opts to sell and make it someone else's problem. Given the legislative rewards the Telcos are getting - shouldn't we expect a sound national broadband plan in return?

from: DSL reports

Verizon Sells Maine, New Hampshire, & Vermont Lines

A celebratory Verizon press release on their NJ roll-outs. The pricing appears to be the same as local cable offerings (is this what they mean by ‘choice and competition’)? We'd love to hear stories from NJ and elsewhere on local pricing levels, service and PEG carriage (write us at info@saveaccess.org). Verizon also introduced state franchise bills in NY and MA last week . . .

from: PR News Wire

This letter was sent by Verizon to a 'municipal leader' in Massachusetts - but it reads like a 'Dear John' letter to the access community. Note the issues: PEG support is capped at 1% which will hurt many Massachusetts PEG acccess centers. There is no mention of iNet support (institutional networks) or possible interconnect fees. Also missing are any promise of build-out (redlining) requirements. Then there is the absurd 15 day shot clock to approve applications.

from: Boston Globe

Legislators look to increase cable TV competition Bill to speed approval process, aid Verizon

By Robert Weisman, Globe Staff | January 10, 2007

A pair of Massachusetts lawmakers is expected to introduce legislation today that would enable companies seeking to offer cable television to get approval from the state rather than cities and towns.

The bill being prepared by state Senator Steven Panagiotakos , Democrat of Lowell, and Representative James Vallee , Democrat of Franklin, would allow new cable-television providers such as Verizon Communications Inc. to bypass the current franchising process in individual communities and apply to the state Department of Telecommunications and Energy for permission to enter the cable market in one or more service areas.

If Verizon is giving up on Federal legislation, they're not giving up on state franchise. Today a Verizon backed bill was expected to be introduced in Massachusetts.

from: MultiChannel news

Tauke: Big Telecom Bill Unlikely in 2007-08
By Ted Hearn 1/9/2007 5:37:00 PM

from: Light Reading

2006 Top Ten: Big IPTV Moments

JANUARY 05, 2007

Most people will probably look back at 2006 as (another) "warm-up year" for IPTV. Here at Light Reading we like to think of IPTV as a toddler -- just out of diapers, and about to break a heap load of stuff as part of its "learning process."

From: Bloomberg News

Verizon, AT&T Lobby States for TV Licenses, Bypassing Congress

By Molly Peterson

Dec. 18 (Bloomberg) -- Verizon Communications Inc. and AT&T Inc. haven't fared well in Washington in their bid to expand their television business. They're doing a lot better in Trenton and Topeka.

The phone companies are backing off a two-year push to get Congress to help them win a bigger chunk of the $68 billion cable-TV market. Instead, they're shifting their focus to state capitals -- nine legislatures have already approved TV-licensing laws -- as well as the Federal Communications Commission.